[Vision2020] Alturas
Tim Lohrmann
timlohr@yahoo.com
Wed, 8 Oct 2003 10:07:41 -0700 (PDT)
Barbara,
What purpose is served by implying that those
questioning Alturas' fidelity to its original mission
are somehow anti-business?
Actually the opposite is true.
The citizens who are keeping an eye on how Alturas
is developing supported its original mission-- to
retain high-tech businesses in the Moscow area.
What they don't support is a change of its mission
to allow tax supported office space that could be
found elsewhere.
It may be true that population growth will
inevitably lead to some sprawl--but many Moscow
citizens don't support allowing tax-supported entities
to facilitate such sprawl.
That is the issue.
Why not keep this discussion on point?
Pinning the "anti-business" label upon those with
legitimate questions and concerns about Alturas'
operations doesn't serve any constructive purpose.
Except to obfuscate the real issues.
TL
--- Barbara Richardson Crouch <edc@moscow.com> wrote:
> The bonds will be retired in 2015. The businesses
> in Alturas do pay taxes -
> those taxes are used to retire the bonds. Economic
> benefit cannot be
> defined purely by property taxes paid - if that were
> the case, the
> University of Idaho, Gritman Medical Center, etc.
> would have no economic
> benefit.
>
> I believe there is a false notion that no business
> growth means no growth or
> sprawl for Moscow. That is not true. Moscow has
> seen a tremendous growth
> in residential units. The great quality of life
> that brought me here, will
> continue to bring others. Residential growth alone
> cannot support a city's
> tax base - business development is necessary to
> generate property taxes and
> jobs that support the local economy. If you look at
> the wonderful
> festivals, arts events, etc. in Moscow - most have
> local businesses as their
> major sponsors. Without businesses many of the
> activities that contribute
> to our great quality of life would not exist.
>
> Moscow cannot provide economic opportunity for all
> its citizens without
> business growth. If you review the UI economic
> impact study, you will see
> that the third highest economic force on our economy
> is money from outside
> Moscow/Pullman - this does not include UI and WSU
> funds or Federal Funds and
> transfer Payments (welfare, social security,
> retirement, etc.) We are a
> bedroom community, and as with all bedroom
> communities, residential property
> taxes will continue to climb to pay for services.
>
> Barbara Richardson Crouch
> Latah Economic Development Council
> 121 Sweet Ave.
> Moscow, Idaho 83843
> (208) 885-2832
> (208) 885-3803 (fax)
> edc@moscow.com
> www.moscow.com/edc
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com
> [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]On
> Behalf Of B. J. Swanson
> Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2003 8:22 AM
> To: John Danahy; 'Vision2020'
> Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Alturas
>
>
> In a dream world, a private developer would have
> done Alturas Park. The
> Economic Development Council had that same dream in
> the early 1990's. In
> the real world, after two years of trying, the EDC
> realized that would never
> happen. Pullman, Lewiston, Orofino and other small
> communities came to the
> same realization. Small communities with a need for
> high paying jobs and a
> diversified economy but without the population base,
> interstate highway,
> airport, other private businesses, etc., to make it
> happen. All realized
> that in exchange for a Port District or an Urban
> Renewal Agency, jobs and
> diversity could be achieved. Alturas Park has made
> 80 jobs and $3.5 million
> in salaries happen.
>
> B. J. Swanson
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com
> [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]On
> Behalf Of John Danahy
> Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 5:04 PM
> To: 'Vision2020'
> Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Alturas
>
>
> The Alturas Park was an interesting experiment that
> has not really fulfilled
> expectations. As such, it is not possible to either
> abandon the park or
> return to a failed idea of what should have been.
> However, neither should
> it continue in its current incarnation. The time is
> coming quickly when the
> bonds for development will be paid off, and as such,
> the best approach is to
> recognize it is time for the city to get out of the
> RTO development
> business. I suggest we simply allow the park to "go
> private". The park
> should pay taxes just as any other business venture.
>
> John
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
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